Educational device



F65 17, 1953 F. M. MINNINGER Erm. 2,623,435

EDUCATIONAL EVIcE Filed Aug. 13, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1

l/ f /4 37 f7 ATTORN EY Fell 17, 1953 F. M. MINNINGER Erm. 2,628,435

EDUCATIONAL DEVICE INVENTORS Fel 17, 1953 y F. M. MINNINGER E TAL 2,628,435

' EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Filed Aug. 13, 1949 I :s sheets-sheet s TJIAM. i T: [95

' ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES "EDUCATIONALDEVICE Frank lVLzMin'ninger and Evelyn S. 1V.[inninger,

Rochesten, Mich.

' Application August 13, 1949,:Se1'1iallN0.`110,068

(Cl.,f3535) 91' Claims.

'Ihisinventiongrelates to ran Veducational device designedprimarily as a visual aid f or assisting young children ,to learnthe art ofA reading and doing'` simple arithmetic by sight.

A principal object of the inventionis toy pro- 'vide an educational device /Whichwill vvaiord to childrenof both pre-school and school'agean enjoyable, self-helpmethod Afor ,acquiring a substantialvocabularvof useful Words and anfabillity to recognizesuch Words on sight, and-alsofor acquiring asubstantialaptitude for doing simple arithmetic.

Anothenobject\of;the.invention is to provide a device which. will,be useful as a valuable means `sof .remedial reading .for children who require more exposure to Words than do average pupils.

. Still another, object oithe invention is to pro vide an educational device, of this character, the operation of Whichwill enable. the ,youngnhild ,to use his hands as well as hismind.

Briefly, according to the invention, there .is provided :an appliance, in theforniof a book, folderor the` like, each of the leaves of whichhas imprinted or otherwise vdisplayedon each face .thereof a desired number of words or other matter, therecognitionof whichistoloeflearned-by rthe child, -each-suchword or other matterbeing associated with a pictorial representation.- hereof,

I or with otherappropriate Ainstructional material, Yarrangedzo -be selectively revealedfor concealed from View.

More specically,-: each leaf- ,comprises twdlaylayers having thepdesiredzwords OrQtherzmatter idisplayedon `the .outer1aface.;thereof, sand an opening formed .therein in alignment, With each of thewords or items of other matter displayed lonsueh outer face. Movable-membersa arranged-between thewadjacent linner .facesv oflthe two layersso thatv each of saidmembersimaybe selectively moved vfrom a position in whichthere ment between such-positions. ""Theinvention, its objects and advantages-will fbe more `readily apparent fromthefolloW'ing-detailedl description of4 several vembodiments' and yfrom the accompanying drawingsyin which:

'tv ig. 1 is a: viewe ineberspectve..of-aboplacenf y structed:accordinetov-.one--embodirnentnt.theauf; vention;and shown witheitswcover open;

' .2 is -a.plan vievvoffthefbooktshown in .fliggL opened to reveal adjoining leavesthereoffgcertain portions being ybrokenaway;

Fig. 3. is a fragmentary -vievv of afportion-ofeone ofthe leaves showninlfig.; 2;

vFig. 4 is across -sectional view takenealongaline 4--l of Eig. 2;

Fig. 5.. is; :ann enlarged-1 iragmentaryffY YieWt/ aieof Fig. '7 is, a view', in perspectiveeshowinganother embodiment .of the invention;

Fig 8 ,is a planview showingithegembodiment of, Fig. 7 unfolded;

Fig. 9, is ra `cross-sectional vieW/:takenzalong line 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a planiview showingzstillanother f embodiment of the invention;

Fig. v100i is a plan Viewfshowing the reverseiace l:vof the leafappearing at:the.'left-hand=:endiof Fig. 10;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional."viewftaken along Fig. '12 is a plan View of a-mo'died-formfof leaf that may be used with orfin v-plavse'ofj-{i'fhe `leavesshown inFigs. lojand 1,1;

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional viewtakenfalong Fig. v14 is a plan view of abool'nconstructedeaccording to still-another' enlbo'diment of themvention andshown/With itscover open;

Fig. 15 is asimilarfview thereof,ope ned at gne of itspages; g Fig.V 164 is Ya cross-sectionalv view 4t a'l er1 aloflg line IG-IB of Fig; 15;

Fig. 17 is aplan view; of one ,ofthe-Dalits Iof vthe book shown Figs. .14516; .and

Fig. 18 is a plan View oi .thereverse :face osaid part. i

Referringnow toFigs. 1 to6;-the embodiment of ,the inventionthere villustrated isin'the iorm of a book, indicatedgenerallyby the...nu meral .l0,

and comprisingcover members ligand anyedesired number of leaves I2 enclosed betvveen, the :cover members. Each oftheleaves vof. .Jfleffboolr is in the formA of two facially adjacent-, layersor sheets of materialfl'il; i5 vsuch as heavy papenor cardboard, secured to one vanother' in ,aIly-.sultable fashion along*v the lhorirontal and vertical ledges thereof, aS byadhESVe.,tapeindicatediat I 1; `The several leaves ofithe bookmfyberbound Variety of ways.

3 to one another and to the cover members II in any convenient fashion. In the embodiment illustrated, this takes the form of a spiral wire 22, the convoluticns of which are received in perforations 23 formed along marginal edges I9 of each 5 of the leaves, in well-known manner.

Each of the layers I4, I5 has imprinted or otherwise displayed on the outer face thereof a series of vertically spaced words, the sight reading of which is to be taught to the child user of It will be noted, therefore, that the openings 26 20 are located in a verti-cal series adjacent one margin of each leaf, Whereas the openings 29 are located in a vertical series adjacent the opposite l margin thereof.

Each of the openings 26, 29 is associated with 25 means whereby selectively to reveal or conceal thereat a pictorial illustration of the word adjacent each of such openings. To that end, movable members in the form of slides 3G, made of paper, cardboard or the like are positioned inter- 30 mediate the layers I4, I5 composing each leaf I2.

These slides 30 are of a length less than the width of the layers by an amount substantially corre-` spending to the width of one of the -openings 26,

29 so that each slide may be moved either to a 35 position in which a pictorial representation of the'word aligned with each of the openings in revealed through such openings, or to a position in which such pictorial representation becomes concealed. The slides 3B may be retained in a posi- 40 tion for sliding movement between the two layers I4, I5 and to be guided in such movement in a As illustrated, this may take the form of suitable nger grips 33 connected to the slides 3U adjacent one end thereof and eX- 45 tending outwardly through horizontally elongated slots 35v formed'in the layer I5 adjacent the lower end of the openings 29 therein. Similar finger lated for movement selectively from the outer` face of either of the layers I4, I5 i. e. whichever 55 of these faces is presented to view, for selectively revealing or concealing at the openings formed therein the pictorial illustration of the Words displayed thereon.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1-6, the pictorial 60 Y representations or illustrations of the words displayed on the outer face of each layer I4 are displayed on the inner face of the facially adjacent layer l5 is registry with the openings 25 in the layerV I4, while those of the words on each layer Y I5 are displayed `on the inner face of said layer I4 in registry with the openings 29 in said layer I5.

Referring now more specifically to Fig. 2, the

Likewise, the layer I5 is formed with an 15 with the word boat displayed on the outer face of the layer I4. The slide 3U next therebelow is shown in a position atthe limit of its movement to the left, thus revealing the picture of a train appearing on the inner face of layer I5 is registry with the opening in layer I4 in alignment with Vthe word train displayed on the outer face of the layer I4. The next lower slide is also shown in the same relative position, i. e., to reveal a pictorial illustration of a bus through the opening 26 of layer I4 in alignment with the word bus The next lowermost slide, associated with the Word eye, is shown in the ysame relative position as the two last described, while the lowermost slide, associated with the word hat, is shown in the same relative position as the uppermost slide 30.

It will be seen that when any one of the slides is in a position in which it conceals, at an opening 25, the pictorial illustration of a word on the outer face of the layer I4 of each leaf, it will, in that position, reveal, at the horizontally aligned opening 29 in the facially adjacent layer I5 of the same leaf, the pictorial illustration of the aligned word on the outer face of such facially adjacent layer I5. Thus, the pictorial illustration of any one of the words on each of the leaves I2 may be individually revealed or concealed by movement of one of the slides 3U in the proper direction (to the left for revealing, and to the right for concealing, such illustration).

By means of this arrangement, a' young child may readily be taught to recognize the words a-ppearing on the outer face of each leaf of the book through mental association of the formation of each of these words with the corresponding picture or illustration. The childs knowledge of any of the words will be apparent when the child is able to recognize the word when theslide 30 is `in the position in which the picture or illustration thereof is concealed. A

Although for the purpose of illustrating and describing the invention, ve words are shown displayed on each ofv thelayers I4, I5, this number may 'be varied depending upon the surface dimensions of the layers forming each leaf of the book, the size of the lettering and the desired size of the accompanying pictorial illustrations of the words. As will be further evident, the book may be composed of any desired number of leaves to afford a vocabulary of useful size. The words, of course, may be selected from such scientifically graded lists as the Gates word list, the Rinsland list or that of Thorndike-Lorge.

In order to make sure that a child using the .book actually recognizes a word when the corresponding picture is concealed by appropriate movement of one of the slides to the picture concealing position, and that the child has not merely memorized the words in the order in which they appear on eachof the pages, means may be provided for selectively .blocking off or concealing one or more of the words themselves,

thereby to alter the sequence in which the words on any of the pages may be visible. One such 5 means, as best illustrated in Figs. l and 2, may

comprise spaced flaps 4D, made of stiff paper or the like, of a length to extend across the width of the page and perforated adjacent the inner Y f ends thereof so as to be mounted on the spiral luppermost slide 30 of the leaf at the right hand 70 sideY of this figure is shown positioned at the limit Vof its movement to the right. In that position, this slide conceals the picture of a boat applied tothe inner face of layer I5 is registry with the uppermost opening 2B in layer I4 in alignment 75 wire 22 for swinging movement. Thus, each flap 4U may be swung so as to cover either a word on the outer face of the layer I4 of one leaf of the book, or a word in alignment therewith on the outer face I5 of the adjoining leaf ofthe book (except in the case of the flaps 40 associated with *accesses Another embodiment of'. the invention is illustrated-'in'EigsL 7 to 9v-inclusive. Here there is shown Afan lembodinlent ofthe invention inthe VVVformlofa folder consisting of-two leaves 5,l`5|. It Awill' be' understood thatany desired knumber -lofsuch folders may beassembledinfany. convenient fashion inthe form of abook, Vof loose-leaf form' or otherwise. vl-ilach of these folders, inthe form shown, fconsists'of-a single pi'e'ce'of` rela- :tively stiff paper or cardboardfcrea'sedorscored to form-a hinge lineat`52 and'folded-along .lines 53,154 parallelto the hinge line 52 so that each of' the :leaves-5D, 5l is composed vof two facially adjacent layers 55,-156the layers lE56-being provided with extensions or flaps 58 along the upper andllower edges thereof, these flaps being folded fover on to the outer face of layers55 and adhesively secured thereto. A series of vvertically Y spaced words may .be imprinted or otherwise dis- Aplayedon the outer surface of each of the layers 55, 56, preferablyvv along the left-hand margin thereof. Adjacent and preferably to the right Likewise, .each of the layalignment with one of said words. The openings 6|ineach of the layers55 are in horizontal alignment with'the openings 62 in the companion layver 56. Movable members in the form of slides 64 are interposed between each layer Vv55 and its companion layer 56 vfor movement back and forth across eachpair of openings 6I,`62. In this emfb0diment,'the pictorial representations of each, ofthe -words displayed are-carried by the slides 64 themselves, instead of on the inner faces of the layers constituting the leaves, as in the-case "ofthe embodiment first described. Accordingly, vthe slides 64 are of a length Iequalat least to thev v`distance -b'etweenithe outer ends 'of the open- Vvings 6I and. the outer ends ofthe openings 62 sof' each leaf. In 'otherfworda yin' this embodimentyeachof the lslidesf 64 at all times under- V"lies an opening 6I in one of the layersl 55-as well Y as-'the horizontal -aligned opening 62 in the faci- Y ally adjacent layer 56, whether the slide is in position Ato reveal the pictorial illustrations at vsuch openings or in position to conceal the same.

Preferably, the outer ends of each of the slides Gil/extend beyond the Vcorresponding outer ends of-the openings 6I, 62. Studs or finger grips 65 are connected at one end of each of the slides 64 i and .extendl through elongated slots 66 formed in 1 :the-layer 55. Theseslots 66`preferably' intersect 'the openings v6l at l the laterally outer 'edge thereof.

. Similarly, studs Glare connected to the oppo- .site endsV of each of the slides 64, these studs yextending through slots 66 formed in the layer 56, in alignment with the slots 66 and preferably also intersectingfthe openings 62 at the laterally outer-edge thereof. The slides 64 vare each prov"vided" on the surfacethereof presented'to View tlfxrough'the'l openings 6 lwith 'a' pictorialiillus-E outer face of'A l*thevla-yer555, "these -fpictorial'lillustrations being locate'dfon suchifaces inisucl'L-po'sition as to be revealed through the respective openingVA 6 Il when l the vslide is :moved-to *apposition lat the limit of its movement-'toward'.theiright jand to be vconcealed fromf-view-und'er .the slayer 55 whenthe slide is moved toithefposition'fxat the limitof `its-movement to itheisleft..-..1Similarly, lthe opposite face' of eachoftheaslides''ld:isiprovided Vwith a pictorial y illustrationofxone :fof the words displayed* on the 'outer facezofzithelayer 56, each-ofthese illustrations .also-:being located on the slide in suona position as'ztozbe revealed Aalong the marginaledgesi thereof.

through Athe respective opening; 62 when". the: slide -is moved toV position at 1 the :extreme: rightifof; the layer 56 (when.Y presented'Vv to zview) :and .to' be concealed under layer 56.when.theslideis moved in the opposite direction.to.'thezsextremex'limitrzof its movement to the left.

Figs. 10 to 13 illustrate embodimentsifofvthe invention which .may be .utilized.iforizfassisting young children toacquire an aptitude for, doing simple arithmetic Vby sight... Asshown in-Figll, these embodiments may 1 be `inthe form yof.` a folder consisting of. anydesiredfnumberzof leaves 11B connected to` one .another as by y'spiral :wire

passing through perforationsiin the edges Yofthe adjoining leaves, so.v as vtofform either-.a-:book with the .leaves thereof. arrangedfin the. manner depicted in Figs. 1 to 6.or a .folderiarrangediin accordion-pleated fashion.

Referring toFigs. l0 and 11i-.each ofthe leaves 1i)` consists of two spacedlayers ofi-material 11|, 12 made of cardboard or-,the like,v the respective layers 1|, Y1'2Jbeing seouredfto:.one-.another `The outer face of each of the two layersmayihaveffimprinted thereon problems insimple arithmetic, the answers to which itis desired that the child learn. In this embodiment of the invention, the movable members are .arranged to cooperate with openings formed in the layers 1 I, 12 so asselectively to reveal the answers' to veach VFof .--such problems, or to conceal the same. `Since-the numbers that would normally be used in teaching simple arithmetic to a young child `would be of one or `perhaps'two digits occupying relatively small surface. area, `it is Vpossible.i n.this instance to utilize eachof the layers-1|,.121-to .present several series of.. arithmetic problems, .for instruction of thechild. .Thus,as showninFig.

10,-wherein problems in multiplication are illustrated,. one .seriesof such problems,vertically spaced from one another as indicatedat13,. appear adjacent the left-.hand .side` of..e`ach'.layer 12, and a. second series .of .diiferentproblems similarly spaced from one. another but oifs'etor staggered vertically withrespect .to those ofse'- ries 13, appears at the right handv side. `of each layer 12, as indicated at 1li.` Likewise,r onthe reverse side of each leaf, namely onfthe vvouter face of eachv layer 1I, one series of problems'13a is at the left-hand side of thatface (as presented to view) and a second, series, 14a,..staggered,or offset with respect to therst-named series, appears adjacent the right hand side thereof ."Thus, each problem of series13 is vin .horizontal alignment with one of the problems of series"'13a on the opposite face of the leafrandf'likewise, each problem of series 1!! is in horizontal alignment with .one of the problemsofseriesl 14a, on such .opposite face.

In eachY instance, Ithe multiplier and mltiplicandfas wellA as' the usual cross hiarksym'- fbolizing multiplication and a line immediately below the multiplier, are imprinted in the arrangement in which they would normally be written.

Each'layer 'Il is provided with an opening 'l5 immediately below each problem appearing thereon, and similarly, each layer 12 is provided with an opening 'I6 vimmediately below each of the problems appearing thereon. The `answer to each of the respective problems, i. e., the product of each multiplicand and multiplier, appearing are positioned intermediate the layers 1I, 12 composing each leaf '10. Each layer 12 is formed with a horizontally elongated slot '18 4adjacent the right-hand side of each opening 'i6 which is below a problem of seriesV 13, and wi-th a similar slot 18a adjacent the left side of each opening 'I6 which is below a problem of series 14. Similarly,

each layer 1| is formed with similar slots ,19, 79a

respectively, adjacent the right hand and left hand sides of the openings 15 which are below the problems of series 13a, 14a appearing on layer 1|. Suitable studs or nger grips 89, 8l are formed on or connected to each alternate slide 'Il at horizontally spaced points to be received in slots 18, 19, respectively, and similarly spaced studs or finger grips 88a, 8Ia, are formed with or connected to each intervening slide 11 Vto bereceived in slots 18a, 19a, respectively. As will-now be seen, each of the slides 'I1 of each leaf 'lil may be manipulated from either face of the leaf for selectively revealing or concealing Vthe answer to one of the problems appearing on each face of the leaf. Thus, when a slide associated with any of the problems of series 'I3 is moved to the limit of its movement to the right (i. e., when stud 80 is at the right-hand end of slot 1B) the answer to such problem will be presented to View through the opening T6 immediately therebelow, while movement of this slide to the limit of its movement in the opposite direction (i. e., when stud 80 is at the left-hand end of slot 18) will conceal such answer from View. When this slide is similarly manipulated from the other face of the lead, it will likewise reveal the answer Vto one of the problems of series 13a, through the opening 'I5 immediately therebelow, when the slide is positioned with stud 8l at the right-hand end of slot 19 (i. e., in the same position as when stud 80 is at the left-hand end of slot 18) or will conceal such answer when positioned with stud 8l' at the left-hand end of slot 'I9 (i. e., in the same A series of problems therein on the outer face of the layers 1|, '12, in place of the series of multiplication problems shown at 13, 13a, 14, 14a, and printing on the inner face of layer 1 I, in registry with the openings 16 of layer '12, the answers to .the respective problems presented on layer 12; and likewise printing on the inner face of layer 12 the answers to the respective problems appearing on layer 1l, in registry with the appropriate openings 'i5 of layer 'I I.

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate a single leaf (any number of which can be assembled into book form) constructed in generally the same manner as the leaves l0 of Figs. 10, 11, but modified to adapt it for assisting a young child to learn V short division. For this purpose, typical prob- 84 are formed in each of the l-ayers immediately above each problem i. e. in the relative place in which the quotient would normally be written. The quotients constituting the answers to the respective problems appearing on the outer face of one of the layers are imprinted on the inner face of the other layer in registry with the respective openings in the first-named layer, so as to be selectively revealed or concealed therethrough by movement of the slides 85 in one direction or the other. This embodiment also differs from that of Figs. 10, 11 in that the studs, indicated at 86 are connected to the slides in position to be received by elongated slots 8l formed in each of the layers immediately above the openings 84.

In Figs. 14 to 18 is shown an embodiment of the invention in the form of a book whose construe` tion differs in several respects from that of the embodiments previously described. While also a loose-leaf form of book, the leaves 90 in this embodiment are arranged to hinge along one of the Valignment with and preferably to the right of each of these words, layer 9| is formed with an opening 96 of desired size and shape. The other layer 9-2 of each leaf likewise has a seriesof ver- Y tically spaced words imprinted on the outer face position as when stud 80 is at ythe right-hand end of slot 18). TheV answer to the problems of series 14, 14a may likewise be selectively re- Y vealed by movement of the respective slides asthereof, these words likewise being arranged at the left-hand side of layer 92 when the latter is presented to view on reversal of the leaf about the rings 94, each word on layer 92 being preferably imprinted along generally the same line with one of the words on layer 9|.. In alignment with and to the right of each of the words appearing on layer 92, the latter is formed with'an opening 91 of desired size and shape, preferably the same as in the case of openings 96. Preferably, also, the openings 91 are in vertical alignment with the openings 96. The layers 9|, 92 are secured to one another as by stitching or adhesive 98 extending transversely thereof in thevspace between each of the imprinted words and their respective horizontally alignedopenings '96, `91.

t printed onthe. layer 92. -Each pocket 99 is adapted to .receive .for easily sliding movement therein Aa member |00, the'l'atter being of alength some- 'what greater than 'the transverse dimension of .the leaves. i One face of each member IBIl carries `a pictorial representation of vone of 'the words appearing on one of the layers 9|, inposi- .tion to .be .presented to view through the opening .'96 aligned With such Word When the member `is moved in'its pocket a Vconsiderable distance to ..the.right, anclto. be concealedfrom vievvby over- .lying .portionsfof fthe` material 'of layer'ill when J themember ismoved substantially the same distance in the opposite direction. The opposite face |02 of each member '|06 carries a pictorial :representation of the Word appearing Von layer "92 which .is vertically aligned with the word on llayer 9| ofthe same leaf, and Whose pictorial .representation is carried on the iirst .named face of the member 00, 'the pictorial representation of vthe Word appearing on layer '92 likewise being located on said opposite face of,v the member |00 in Aposition to be presented to viewfat .the .opening 9T aligned With such Word when' the member is moved in its pocket 99 a sufficient distance toward ythe right, and to be concealed from view by the overlying portions of `Y`layer 92 when the member -is-"moved a sufcient distance in the opposite direction. It will be understood, of course, that thepictorial representations on face |02 will -be in upside-down relation to that on face 10| so as to appear right-side up when 'theleafjis reversed about rings 94.

- As WillA be Observed from'Figs.-14 andl, When any of the members Hl!) is in the positiontoreveallthe pictorial representation of aword on layer 9| or 92, it extends laterally outward of the right-.hand end of the pocket iny which'the member is carried; whereas, when iny position to conceal such pictorial representation, yit extends laterally outward 'of the left-hand end of said pocket. Thus, either projecting end of the members |00 may-bautilized-'toeffect sliding movementt-hereof in the pockets 99, whereby selectively. to -reveal or .conceal the'pictorial representations of the Words appearing on the layers 9|, 92. It Will be understood, or course, that the slides |00 may be provided With suitable means to prevent them from being completely removed from their respective pockets 39. Thus, for exn ample, as shown in Fig. 15, each of the slides may be formed with a horizontal slot |50 of a length corresponding substantially to its distance of movement from the picture revealing to the picture concealing position, and rivets or eyelets may be secured to each of the layers 9|, 92 in position to be received in the slot H0 and to serve as stops for limiting the outward movement of the slides in either direction.

We claim:

l. A n educational device oi the character described, comprising two facially adjacent layers of sheet material, each of said layers having a series of spaced indicia displayed on the outer face thereof, one of said layers having an opening formed therein adjacent each of said indicia appearing thereon, the other of said layers having an opening formed therein adjacent each of said indicia appearing thereon, a plurality of slidable "members positioned intermediate the two' layers posing and'concealingindependently of the other Amembers'at one'ofsaid'openings in 'either ofl said layers one of `said Lvisual'representations--corre- `sponding. to` the adj acentV indicia.

. 2. An educational'. device lo1?` the character described, comprisingY two faciallyadjacent layers .of sheet. material, ,each of ,said-layers `having* a series of spaced indicia displayedionv the outerf'face thereof, one ofv 'said layers havinganopening formed thereinadjacent 'each indicia appearing thereon, the other vof 'said layers having an'opening formed therein adjacent eachgindiciafappearing thereon and :in lateral alignment With one of the `openings in the firstnamed l'ayverga plurality of .slidable v*members* positionedintermediate thetWo layers for slidable 'movement therebetween, 'visual representations positioned to be visible through eachl opening'upon `predetermined movement of said. slidable'members, said representations corresponding to the indicia adjacent '.the` respective ,.openings,` each of .'said members being. `positioned to underlie `an 'open- .ing in said layers .and being selectively movable to ,selectively .expose and concealindependently of the other members atone of said fopeningsfin one of said layersand alternately .at'.the Aaligned opening inthe `other `ofsaidllayers Vone of said visual representations .corresponding to. the. padjacent indicia.

3. An educational device of the character' described, comprising two "facially adjacent layers of sheet material, each of saidlayers having a series of spaced .indicia displayed y*on theouter face thereof, one of said layers. havinganopening formed therein adjacent each of said indicia appearing thereon, the other of said. layers. having an opening formed therein adjacent each of said indicia appearing thereonand inalignmentwith one ofthe openings in thejflrst-named'layer, a plurality of `slidable members v.positioned .intermediate the .two layers, said .members each being o a. length less .thanthe'dimensionof .,sail'cl. layers measured linearly of its sliding movement and being positioned to underlie an opening in said layers, visual representations positioned to be visible through each opening upon predetermined movement of said slidable members, said representations corresponding to the indicia adjacent the respective openings, and means formed With each of said members for effecting movement thereof of each of them selectively from the outer i ace of either of said layers for selectively exposing and concealing independently of the other members at one of the openings in one of said layers and alternately at the aligned opening in the other of said layers a visual representation corresponding to the adjacent indicia.

4. An educational device of the character described, comprising tWo facially adjacent layers of sheet material, each of said layers having a series of spaced indicia displayed on the outer face thereof, one of said layers having an opening formed therein adjacent each of said indicia appearing thereon, the other of said layers having an opening formed therein adjacent each of said indicia appearing thereonV and in lateral alignment with one of the openings in the rstnamed layer, and a relatively narrow slidable member positioned intermediate the two layers in alignment with each of the openings in one of said layers and the aligned opening in the other of said layers, each of said members being selectively slidable in one direction to a position for revealing independently of the other members through the aligned opening in either of said layers an area of the inner face of the other of said layers and alternately in the opposite direction'to a position for concealing said area, each of said areas bearing a visual representation corresponding to the adjacent indicia on the outer face of the other layer.

5. An educational device of the character described, comprising two facially adjacent layers of sheet material, each of said layers having a series of spaced indicia displayed on the outer face thereof, one of said layers having an opening formed therein adjacent each of said indicia appearing thereon, the other of said layers having an opening formed therein adjacent each of said indicia appearing thereon and in alignment with one of the openings in the first-named layer, and a plurality of slidable members positioned intermediate the two layers, said members being positioned to underlie an opening in said layers and being selectively movable, each of said members Acarrying on one face thereof a visual representation corresponding. to one of said indicia adjacent one of the openings in one of said layers and carrying on the other face thereof a visual representation corresponding to the indicia adjacent the aligned opening in the other of said layers, said representations being positioned on each of said members so as to be selectively revealed independently of the other members through said respective openings and alternately ing formed therein adjacent each said indicia appearing thereon, the other of said layers having an opening formed therein adjacent each indicia appearing thereon, a plurality of movable Y members positioned intermediate the two layers for movement therebetween, visual representa- 12 Y tions positioned to be visi-ble through each opening upon predetermined movement of said slidable members, said representations corresponding to the indicia adjacent rthe respective openings, each of said movable members being positioned to underlie an opening in said layers and being selectively movable for selectively exposing and concealing independently of the other members at each of said openings one of said visual representations corresponding to the adjacent indicia, and finger grips connected at points spaced lengthwise of each of said members and extending through aligned slots in each of said layers for retaining said members -in the interfacial space between said layers and guiding them in their movement therein.

7. An educational appliance having a plurality of leaves, each of said leaves being constructed of two facially adjacent layers of sheet material as dened in claim 1.

8. An educational appliance having a plurality of leaves, each of said leaves being constructed of two facially adjacent layers of sheet material as defined in claim 4.

9. An educational appliance having a plurality of leaves, each of said leaves being constructed of two facially adjacent layers of sheet material as defined in claim 5.

FRANK M. MINNINGER. EVELYN S. MINNIN GER.

l REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 13, 1925 

